A memorable final and a growing league: Cimbaljević optimistic ahead of the national team summer

An uncertain final series, a qualitative leap forward for the entire league, rivalry and a better selection that will help the national team...

Everything that made Vukašin Cimbaljević, a 23-year-old serve receiver, return to Budva and to Montenegrin volleyball last summer - has come true; it has happened.

Including the most important thing for him - the double crown of the Budva team.

It came much more difficult than in previous seasons, and the final series against Buducnost was a story in itself and was only resolved in a masterclass.

It wasn't easy, what's more – it was completely even throughout the season. Buducnost started with two wins against us, then we responded with our series that ultimately led us to win the Cup and the championship. They brought in several experienced players last summer and it was known that there would be difficult and uncertain matches, says Cimbaljević, for odbojka.me.

The finale was a highlight.

"Five games were played, but I think the first one was decisive - when we were losing 2:0 and turned the match around. When we took a 2:0 lead, there was a slight relaxation in our ranks, and our rival, who has quality, promptly punished that. There was pressure before the fifth game, a game after which there is no way to make amends, but Buducnost was also under pressure - it was their chance to win the title after a long time. I think our good preparation for the game, the analyses we did, decided the game. We were calm, more relaxed than our rivals at the beginning, and then we 'went wild', I can freely say so - we got stubborn, of course in a sporting sense, and settled the series. It was a pleasure to play the fifth game, in front of a full stadium, and even greater to end it with a victory, a title and a double crown," says Cimbaljević in one breath.

He says in one sentence about his return, with trophies:

"I continued where Budva left off last season."

And it will continue, very possibly, next season.

"I'm not rushing into a decision, there are offers, but also a chance to stay. The Montenegrin league has now become a good league when it comes to developing players. It is already known that next season will be even stronger, everyone is investing, everyone is getting stronger. There is no relaxation, most of the victories have to be earned. It is no longer the league where it was known in advance that Budva would be first."

This is a good basis for the national team, with which Vukašin Cimbaljević will begin preparations for the new cycle of the Europa League on Monday.

"A good part of the national team is made up of players from Budva and Buducnost, which speaks volumes. The Europa League awaits us, with rivals who may be a little stronger than us on paper, and on the other hand, rivals we can play with. We have a young team, but also a team with players with enviable international experience, so we definitely see our chance. I don't know what is expected of us, but we know what we can do. We ended the last cycle with a victory against Norway and that means a lot to us, regardless of the fact that nine months have passed."

Every competition in the next two years will be a kind of preparation for what awaits Montenegrin volleyball players in the summer or fall of 2028 - the European Championship on home soil, in Podgorica.

"We definitely have it in our subconscious, even though there's still a lot of time left. A great opportunity, a great chance, but also a great pleasure - to play the biggest competition in front of our audience. The right thing for us, the right thing for the fans and the entire volleyball community," concludes Cimbaljević.